"The Panama Canal President William McKinley ushered in the era of the American empire using military strength and economic pressure. His successor, Theodore Roosevelt, established a new foreign policy approach called big stick diplomacy. At the crux of his foreign policy was a thinly veiled threat. Roosevelt was convinced that recent American military successes made the use of force to achieve foreign policy goals unnecessary. Simply the threat of military force was enough. Roosevelt felt that America’s best interests were also the best interests of the rest of the hemisphere. He felt the U.S. had the right and duty to police the Americas. This belief, and his strategy of “speaking softly and carrying a big stick,” shaped much of Roosevelt’s foreign policy. Upon becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt was determined to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Roosevelt sought to achieve the construction of a canal across Central America. The canal was mainly intended to enable the U.S. Navy to operate more effectively in both the Atlantic and Pacific, but also made international trade easier. The most strategic location for a canal was across the Isthmus of Panama, but this piece of land would pose a challenge. At the time, Panama was part of the nation of Colombia. Roosevelt negotiated with the government of Colombia using his big stick philosophy. He threatened to take the project away from Colombia and build through Nicaragua. Colombia finally agreed to a treaty that granted the United States a lease on the land across Panama. In exchange for the land, Colombia received a payment of $10 million. Colombia received an additional $250,000 annual rental fee. The Cape Horn sea route begins in Seattle, Washington. It passes southward through the Pacific Ocean following the coasts of North America, Central America, and South America to Cape Horn. At Cape Horn it turns northward. This sea route then passes northward through the Atlantic Ocean following the coasts of South America and North America. It ends in New York City, New York. The Panama Canal sea route begins in Seattle, Washington. It passes southward through the Pacific Ocean following the coasts of North America and Central America. It turns eastward at the Isthmus of Panama and transits the Panama Canal to the Caribbean Sea. It then passes through the Caribbean Sea and turns northward. Finally, it follows the coast of North America to New York City, New York. Before the Panama Canal was built, ships had to use the long, dangerous route around South America’s Cape Horn to sail between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Colombian people were outraged over the loss of their land to the United States. Influenced by the public outcry, the Colombian Senate rejected the treaty. Upon hearing the treaty had been rejected, Roosevelt urged Panama to revolt against Colombia. Panama declared independence and the U.S. immediately recognized the new nation. Once the Panamanian victory was secured, construction on the canal began in May of 1904. While the area was the best location strategically, engineers would need to modify the land with physical features, such as walls to complete the lock system that would allow ships to navigate the narrow area and shallow waters. Excited by the work, Roosevelt became the first sitting U.S. president to conduct an official international trip. He traveled to Panama where he visited the construction site, taking a turn at the steam shovel and removing dirt. The Panama Canal was constructed across the isthmus of Panama connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The canal officially opened in 1914, permanently changing world trade and military defense patterns.

Question

"The Panama Canal President William McKinley ushered in the era of the American empire using military strength and economic pressure. His successor, Theodore Roosevelt, established a new foreign policy approach called big stick diplomacy. At the crux of his foreign policy was a thinly veiled threat. Roosevelt was convinced that recent American military successes made the use of force to achieve foreign policy goals unnecessary. Simply the threat of military force was enough. Roosevelt felt that America’s best interests were also the best interests of the rest of the hemisphere. He felt the U.S. had the right and duty to police the Americas. This belief, and his strategy of “speaking softly and carrying a big stick,” shaped much of Roosevelt’s foreign policy. Upon becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt was determined to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Roosevelt sought to achieve the construction of a canal across Central America. The canal was mainly intended to enable the U.S. Navy to operate more effectively in both the Atlantic and Pacific, but also made international trade easier. The most strategic location for a canal was across the Isthmus of Panama, but this piece of land would pose a challenge. At the time, Panama was part of the nation of Colombia. Roosevelt negotiated with the government of Colombia using his big stick philosophy. He threatened to take the project away from Colombia and build through Nicaragua. Colombia finally agreed to a treaty that granted the United States a lease on the land across Panama. In exchange for the land, Colombia received a payment of $10 million. Colombia received an additional $250,000 annual rental fee. The Cape Horn sea route begins in Seattle, Washington. It passes southward through the Pacific Ocean following the coasts of North America, Central America, and South America to Cape Horn. At Cape Horn it turns northward. This sea route then passes northward through the Atlantic Ocean following the coasts of South America and North America. It ends in New York City, New York. The Panama Canal sea route begins in Seattle, Washington. It passes southward through the Pacific Ocean following the coasts of North America and Central America. It turns eastward at the Isthmus of Panama and transits the Panama Canal to the Caribbean Sea. It then passes through the Caribbean Sea and turns northward. Finally, it follows the coast of North America to New York City, New York. Before the Panama Canal was built, ships had to use the long, dangerous route around South America’s Cape Horn to sail between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Colombian people were outraged over the loss of their land to the United States. Influenced by the public outcry, the Colombian Senate rejected the treaty. Upon hearing the treaty had been rejected, Roosevelt urged Panama to revolt against Colombia. Panama declared independence and the U.S. immediately recognized the new nation. Once the Panamanian victory was secured, construction on the canal began in May of 1904. While the area was the best location strategically, engineers would need to modify the land with physical features, such as walls to complete the lock system that would allow ships to navigate the narrow area and shallow waters. Excited by the work, Roosevelt became the first sitting U.S. president to conduct an official international trip. He traveled to Panama where he visited the construction site, taking a turn at the steam shovel and removing dirt. The Panama Canal was constructed across the isthmus of Panama connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The canal officially opened in 1914, permanently changing world trade and military defense patterns.
The Panama Canal Answers What was the basic principle of Roosevelt’s big stick diplomacy? Possible response: Theodore Roosevelt felt that American military successes meant that military force was not needed to realize U.S. foreign policy goals. Rather, the threat of military force was all that was needed to be successful in foreign policy. Why was the Panama Canal important? Possible response: The Panama Canal was important because it connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The U.S. wanted the canal for military and economic reasons. Ships in the Atlantic had previously had to go all the way around South America to get to the Pacific Ocean. Goods being shipped between the East and West Coasts of the U.S. could be shipped more quickly through the Panama Canal. The canal would also allow the U.S. Navy to move more efficiently in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans."

As America grew into a prosperous nation in the early 1900s, it began to take on more influence in global politics. Explain Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Policy” and how it contributed to this growing power.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

Theodore Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Policy” was a foreign policy approach characterized by a combination of diplomacy and the implicit threat of military force. Rooted in the phrase “speak softly and carry a big stick,” Roosevelt believed that the United States had both the right and the responsibility to exert its influence across the Americas. This policy emerged in the context of a growing American economic and military presence on the global stage, particularly after a series of military successes, which led Roosevelt to adopt a more assertive stance in foreign affairs.

At its core, the Big Stick Policy emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong military as a means of supporting U.S. foreign policy objectives without always resorting to direct military action. Roosevelt was convinced that the mere threat of American military might would suffice to persuade other nations to cooperate with U.S. interests. This approach allowed the U.S. to expand its influence in the Western Hemisphere and beyond, making it a pivotal player in international affairs.

One of the most notable implementations of the Big Stick Policy was the construction of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt’s goal was to create a shortcut for maritime trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which was vital for both economic growth and military logistics. By supporting Panama’s independence from Colombia and facilitating the construction of the canal, Roosevelt showcased how the threat of American intervention could be leveraged to achieve strategic goals. The canal not only streamlined trade routes but also enhanced the operational capacity of the U.S. Navy, allowing America to project its power more effectively across two oceans.

In addition to tangible results like the canal, the Big Stick Policy significantly contributed to America’s self-perception as a rising global power. It reinforced the belief that the U.S. was destined to play a prominent role in world affairs, influencing the political landscape in the Americas and establishing a precedent for future interventions. Overall, Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy was instrumental in shaping U.S. foreign relations and solidifying its status as an emerging empire in the early 20th century.